Chess, Love and Jeans? | Issue 53 | MM Chess | Chicago Chess Camp
The best monthly chess newsletter you receive.
It’s the 53nd Issue of the MM Newsletter, this time I wanted to share with you how our local tournaments in Chicago are doing, the Gotham Road to GM update, the debut of the youngest world chess champion, and more. But, before we start, there’s a little favor I’d like to ask you🙏. We’re in the process of growing and improving our service, and we need to hear from you first, so if you don’t mind, please fill out this form and help us grow!
Let’s welcome the newest MM students: Jaxon, Shane, Stan, Jon, Jaden Viswanathan, and Patrick.
Student Success🏆
Every month we’re highlighting some of the successes of our students. Proud of something chess-related? Send me photos!
Congratulations to Owen, Fabian’s student, who finished 2nd place, with an outstanding 4.5 out of 5 at the k-4 section of Chicago Public Schools North & South Playoffs, increasing his rating to 789. That is amazing!
We had many incredible moments in our last tournament, and I want to share one of my favorite ones. In the next position, the black’s position seems lost, but can you find the only move to stay in the game?
The whole sequence is around 5 movements long, and even though white is still better with precise play, black still has many chances at the amateur level. Smystical found the sequence and ended up winning the game. For a full review of the position and to confirm the puzzle's answer, you can review the tournament game here.
“You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win”
– Jose Capablanca
My story 🖼️
It’s my first daughter’s first birthday. She’s just started to play with chess pieces… next year we’ll introduce her to the moves!
“There are times when a well-placed pawn is more powerful than the king.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Monthly Tournament♟️
📅 This month’s tournament will take place on Wednesday the 19th, at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CT, 5:00 pm MT, 4:00 pm PT). Most of the players will be rated from 500-1800. Both kids & adults are allowed to play the tournament!
To Play: Reply to this email or press the big green button here. If you haven’t already, you must join the MM team and press the “MM March Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
Congrats to the winners of the February Edition.
“You have to have a fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances”
-Bobby Fischer
Chess News 📰
🏙️ We’re running the NexChamp Camp at the Chicago Chess Center! This is our soft launch, with the full landing page coming in April. Each row has PM/AM/Full Day registration, and we will be having advanced and beginner groups.
Chess + Math Games (6/16 - 6/20, No class 6/19) Registration Registration Registration Chess + 3D Printing (6/23 - 6/27) Registration RegistrationRegistration
Chess + Drones (6/30 - 7/3, No class 7/4) Registration Registration Registration
Chess + Robocoding (7/7 - 7/11)Registration Registration Registration
Chess + Build-a-Bot (7/14 - 7/18)Registration Registration Registration
Chess + Build-a-Bot Part 2 (7/21 - 7/25) Registration Registration Registration
🌟 Is it possible to find a couple playing online chess? Ralf Keller and Valeria Oomen's extraordinary love story began on Chess.com in February 2022 when they were randomly paired for a game. After Valeria blundered a bishop, she messaged Ralf, who intentionally blundered his own in return. This led to a two-month friendship, eventually a long-distance relationship, and a meeting in person. Their story, beginning with a simple chess match, evolved into a real-life love story, proving that connections can form in the most unexpected places.
🥇 Pragg wins Tata Steel over Gukesh in fantastic tiebreak. Praggnanandhaa's victory was sealed in a dramatic tiebreak against World Champion Gukesh. After both players finished the classical portion of the tournament tied, the tension escalated in the blitz tiebreaks. Despite a loss in the first blitz game, Pragg showcased remarkable resilience, winning the subsequent two games, capitalizing on Gukesh's endgame errors, to clinch the coveted title.
💥 Vicent Keymer won over Gukesh and Carlsen in freestyle chess. Vincent Keymer triumphed at the inaugural Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Weissenhaus, marking a significant milestone for the newly launched tour. His win underscores the growing excitement and competitive intensity of this innovative chess format.
💖 Remember that feeling of love in the air from Valentine's Day? Well, the chess world has its own fairytale! In a January celebration, chess champion Magnus Carlsen married Ella Victoria, on a sunny winter day in Oslo. It's a heartwarming reminder that even the most strategic minds have a soft spot for romance, proving that love, like chess, is a game of beautiful combinations.
🌟 Chess added to E Sports World Cup! Chess has been officially recognized as a key esport with its inclusion in the Esports World Cup. This highlights the game's global appeal and strategic depth, solidifying its place within the competitive gaming landscape.
💥 Magnus Carlsen Jean´s Auction. Magnus recently auctioned a pair of his jeans, an item that gained notoriety during the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship. The jeans became a focal point when Carlsen, known for his casual attire, faced a directive to change his clothing due to perceived non-compliance with the tournament's dress code. This occurred during a critical stage of the competition, and Carlsen, rather than adhering to the request, chose to withdraw from the tournament.
The incident sparked considerable discussion within the chess community regarding dress code regulations and the balance between professional standards and individual expression. Carlsen's decision to auction the jeans subsequently drew further attention to the event. The auction was done to raise money for charity. Thus turning a controversial moment into a charitable contribution. The jeans, therefore, became more than just an article of clothing, but a symbol of the debate around player conduct and regulations within professional chess.
“Mother's words resonate deeply with me. Success in life is incomplete if one isn’t kind and humble”
– Gukesh Dommaraju
Fun Facts💡
🏆The first international chess tournament was held in London in 1851. It was organized to coincide with the Great Exhibition, a massive industrial technology showcase. This connection highlights how chess was seen as a significant intellectual pursuit of the time, worthy of being presented alongside cutting-edge innovations.
♔The word checkmate comes from the persian phrase "Shah Mat" which translates to "the king is dead".
🤯In 2016, Timur Gareyev set the current world record by playing 48 blindfold games simultaneously in Las Vegas. This is an awe-inspiring modern-day feat. What made it even more unique was that he did it while riding an exercise bike, which showed a great deal of mental and physical stamina.
📴In the late 19th century, before widespread telephone communication, chess matches were played via telegraph! Imagine the suspense of waiting for each move to be transmitted across vast distances.